The next morning.
Sunlight filtered through the gaps in the rolling shutter, casting mottled patterns of light and shadow.
Lu Yushan sat behind the counter, his fingertips flying across the calculator.
Signing bonus thirty thousand, mission bonus twenty thousand, ten thousand from the female tenant, twenty thousand from the loli tenant, plus the money won from that fat guy in the lawsuit.
After paying off this month’s debts, there will still be some left over.
Looking at the remaining number on the screen, Lu Yushan let out a long breath.
A rare trace of relief appeared on his usually tense dead-fish face.
Although clearing the full two-million-plus debt was still a distant dream, at least this month he wouldn’t have to worry about the debt collectors coming to seize the house.
“Um…”
A slightly awkward voice interrupted his calculations.
Lu Yushan looked up.
Li, the writer tenant who had just moved in yesterday, was standing at the staircase landing.
She had changed out of her stiff trench coat into a simple beige knit sweater.
Her golden hair was casually tied back, and she held a takeout box.
Inside the box, a thick-cut steak was steaming hot, its edges seared golden-brown and paired with delicate broccoli and… what looked like very expensive black pepper sauce.
“I… um, I ordered too much takeout.”
Li’s gaze darted around.
Her fingers tightened unconsciously as she avoided looking directly at Lu Yushan’s eyes.
“Do you want it? If not, I’ll throw it away.”
The corner of Lu Yushan’s mouth twitched slightly.
Steak for breakfast?
Since she was going to throw it out if he didn’t take it…
Lu Yushan didn’t stand on ceremony and accepted the takeout box.
It was a tenant’s goodwill. Refusing would only make things awkward.
Besides… the meat really did look delicious.
Watching her son chew the steak with big bites and a satisfied expression, Li sat at a nearby desk, using an open book to hide her line of sight.
The corners of her mouth lifted unconsciously.
Her eyes were full of tenderness, yet hidden deep within was a sharp ache.
Buzz—
The phone on the desk suddenly vibrated, breaking the warm moment.
Lu Yushan glanced at the caller ID, frowned slightly, and answered before he had even swallowed the beef in his mouth.
“Hello.”
“Have you woken up yet, my ‘personal bodyguard’?”
Gu Lingyue’s lazy voice came through the phone, carrying a hint of command.
“Seven o’clock tonight at Golden Rose Manor. Don’t forget our deal.”
Beep—
The call ended abruptly, decisive and leaving no room for refusal.
Lu Yushan sighed, looking at the remaining half of the steak. Suddenly it felt like a “last meal” he had to finish.
Take someone’s money, solve their problems.
***
Main road, commercial street, T District.
The cold wind howled.
Lu Yushan pulled his coat tighter around himself as he walked toward the designated meeting point.
His mind was still calculating the possible troubles he might encounter tonight.
A high-society banquet—those places were always full of drama.
He just hoped he wouldn’t run into any cliché nonsense…
Boom—!
A low, ferocious engine roar exploded from behind him, interrupting his thoughts.
A flashy bright-silver supercar executed a perfect drift and stopped smoothly beside him.
The wind it kicked up ruffled Lu Yushan’s bangs.
The window rolled down, revealing a face wearing sunglasses.
“Yo! Isn’t this our little Yushan?”
The man removed his sunglasses, showing a handsome yet slightly pale face.
A carefree smile hung at the corners of his mouth.
He looked about twenty-five or twenty-six, dressed in brand-name casual wear.
The watch on his wrist refracted dazzling golden light under the sun.
“Brother Shen Ci?”
Lu Yushan stopped, a little surprised.
Shen Ci was his distant cousin, and the only relative who, after his grandfather passed, hadn’t come to collect debts but had instead sent a lifesaving sum of money without a second thought.
In this cold city, he was one of the few “rich people” Lu Yushan didn’t dislike.
“Where are you headed? It’s freezing out here. Aren’t you cold?”
Shen Ci patted the leather passenger seat and waved with a grin.
“Hop in. I’ll give you a ride.”
“No need. I’m just going a little ways ahead to handle something.”
Lu Yushan shook his head.
Though they had a good relationship, he didn’t want to trouble him.
“Tsk, you kid. Still so stubborn.”
Shen Ci didn’t insist.
He opened the door and got out, leaning against it as he looked Lu Yushan up and down, brows furrowing slightly.
“You’ve gotten even thinner. Have you not been eating properly?”
As he spoke, he habitually pulled out a checkbook and pen from his coat.
“I heard about Grandpa. I was abroad at the time dealing with… cough, business. You know how it is—leaving the country isn’t just about having money.”
Shen Ci’s eyes darkened for a moment before he put on his usual carefree look again.
“How much do you still owe? I’ll clear it for you. Stop taking those messy jobs. You should be focusing on your studies right now.”
“No need.”
Lu Yushan refused quickly and firmly.
He looked at Shen Ci and said seriously.
“I’ve already found a job. It’s a bit tiring, but the pay is good. I can handle the money situation myself.”
Shen Ci’s hand holding the pen paused in mid-air.
“…All right then.”
Shen Ci gave a bitter smile, closed the checkbook, and shook his head helplessly.
“You’ve grown up. Your wings have hardened and you don’t need your brother anymore, huh?”
Though his tone was joking, a flicker of hidden loneliness flashed in his eyes.
“Cough cough… cough cough cough!”
Suddenly, Shen Ci covered his mouth and started coughing violently.
His whole body hunched over. His already pale face turned paper-white, and fine cold sweat beaded on his forehead.
“Brother? Are you okay?”
Lu Yushan’s heart jumped. He stepped forward to support him.
As he got closer, he caught a strong whiff of cologne.
Beneath the fragrance seemed to hide a bitter medicinal scent.
“I’m… fine.”
Shen Ci waved him off and turned away.
He pulled a handkerchief from his pocket, wiped his mouth, and discreetly clenched it before stuffing it back.
“Just caught a cold from staying up all night gaming.”
When he turned back, Shen Ci had put his smile on again.
But the smile looked forced, like it had been painted onto a mask.
“Don’t make a big deal out of it. Your brother is as healthy as a horse. Last night I cleared the map and ate eight thousand ten thousand or whatever.”
Lu Yushan frowned, clearly not buying it.
“You really should go to the hospital and get checked…”
“Aiya, I know, I know. You sound just like my mom.”
Shen Ci cut him off and glanced at his watch, clearly avoiding the topic.
“I won’t keep chatting. I have a boring social engagement tonight.”
He pointed toward the distant Gu Group building, his eyes carrying a hint of amusement.
“I heard Young Miss Gu is hosting some ‘Golden Rose Banquet’ tonight. All the city’s big shots have to show up. I need to make an appearance too, or the old man will scold me again for not doing proper work.”
“You’re going too?”
Lu Yushan was surprised.
“What? You interested in that kind of scene?”
Shen Ci laughed and reached out, ruffling Lu Yushan’s hair hard like when he was little, completely messing it up.
“All right, that kind of place isn’t for you. Study hard. If you need money, just tell your brother anytime.”
With that, as if afraid of being seen through, he quickly got back into the car.
The engine roared.
“I’m off! I’ll treat you to a big meal next time!”
The silver supercar shot off like a streak of light and vanished into the traffic.
Lu Yushan stood in place, staring at the direction where the taillights had disappeared. He remained motionless for a long time.
He raised a hand and touched the hair Shen Ci had just ruffled.
The strong cologne scent still lingered there.
And… that fleeting trace of blood.
I’m probably… just overthinking it?